The Swahili language is called

Kiswahili

by the Swahili speaking people themselves

• is the major and most widely known East African language
• is the African language most widely taught throughout the world
• is the mother tongue of a few million speakers along the East African coast and on some offshore islands of the Indian Ocean
• serves as a common language of communication for well over 50 million people throughout large parts of Eastern and Central Africa
• is the most prominent African language designated for international communication on the African continent